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Agenda Item

3.1 20-712 Public Hearing on the 2020-2021 Proposed Operating/Capital Budgets and the 2020-2021 Proposed Fees and Charges for the City of San José.

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    Paul Kimball almost 4 years ago

    San Jose has been my home for over 20 years, and I love the vibrant community that I am privileged to call myself a part of. But I believe we can do better -- we can reallocate funds away from policing and and towards community building and community services. Please consider taking these actions in light of the growing awareness that policing is not the only way to address the problems for which it is broadly applied today. Reject this budget and dramatically decrease funding for the SJPD.

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    Jacqueline Diaz almost 4 years ago

    Analysis shows that police reforms in line with sensitivity trainings, cameras, etc. DON'T work. By giving more resources to SJPD, we risk ongoing violence and oppression of the most vulnerable groups in our community whose needs range from housing, employment, and other forms of support and aid to keep them "off the streets." Police cannot solve those problems, but allocating resources to groups and insitutiions who can is the best step toward improving SJ for all. Defund the police.

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    Stephanie Kirsch almost 4 years ago

    We need to reallocate our police budget and invest in preventative measures. Housing resources, resources for domestic violence victims, gang prevention, mental health resources, and more would provide a better quality of life to San Jose residents and reduce crime. A non-police task force that responds to non-criminal complaints could provide mediation and prevent police violence. Let's make San Jose a better place to live and thrive!

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    Francis Tolentino almost 4 years ago

    This is absolutely absurd. SJPD have shown their unnecessary use of force during the BLM protests. There needs to be accountability from the police department and the chief of police. By giving more funds to the police, you, Sam Licardo, are showing that you do not care about the community and its people. The response times between the peaceful BLM protests versus violent crimes is baffling.You do not respond to a protest with over 100 officers in riot gear. Defund the police, and invest in SJ.

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    Brenda Zendejas almost 4 years ago

    I ask you today to please leave the money for local services that benefit our community. Defund the police if you care about your community. Don’t pledge take action today by not approving all these cuts that hurt our community the communities that u all represent. Mayor I’m very disappointed you would even consider cutting on these services and not the Police department. Invest in your community that are your constituent voters.

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    Tanya Rosales almost 4 years ago

    I think it’s time for a big push for police reform immediately. Fire racist cops and those who abuse their power, invest the funds into the community! Please don’t drag your feet on this, the only reason reform and defunding would take a long time is if those in power don’t want to let go of their privileges to help the city and community they claim to serve. San Jose is a very diverse community and it broke my heart when I realized years ago we have racist cops. It shouldn’t be that way, please

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    Bryna Haugen almost 4 years ago

    I strongly oppose the budget proposed for 2021. Continued funding of police departments and police militarization does NOT protect our community. Why are my tax dollars going to fund a department that left people choking and bleeding after protests? Why is Jared Yuen still being paid 5x more than the average San Jose teacher? Defund, divest, and fund HEALTH and EDUCATION, programs that ACTUALLY protect and serve our community.

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    Justin Porter almost 4 years ago

    Reforms don’t work and that’s been proven through different precincts around the country. Slash the inflated police budget and abolish our current police system, replacing them with social workers and individuals from the respective neighborhoods to police those in their community.
    The funds from the police budget should be moved to the schools, parks and rec, mental health services, and housing the homeless. These funds need to directly flow into the black and POC communities that need them.

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    Estella Le almost 4 years ago

    There are more areas of purpose the fund must be put into, such as education, homelessness, healthcare, and social workers. The fact that 94% of teachers have to buy their own school supplies out of their pockets is ironic, since the police do not buy their own bullets out of their own wallets. Another point, the police came out in riot gear, tear gas, and rubber bullets against peaceful protestors wearing leggings, t-shirts, jeans, and shoes. Who is really the threat? The people or the police?

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    Scott Vasser almost 4 years ago

    The number that the cops are going to receive is quite disturbing. There is no reason that the budget should out weigh housing, mental health resources. Put that money back into the community and help save San Jose, you are so hellbent on saving the police and instead of saving us, they are hurting and killing us. “San Jose, not the coolest tenth largest city in America” that is your new tag line in your bio Mr. Liccardo because there is nothing cool about this town anymore. Stop killing!!

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    Priscilla Spradlin almost 4 years ago

    I support the calls for defunding if the SJPD and using those funds for community backed programs that will empower and support those communities that have been criminalized and over policed in this city. We need to start focusing on care, and addressing the disparities in schools, resources and access to life affirming programs in certain communities.

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    Paul Lancing almost 4 years ago

    As gentrification rages on and economic despair continues during a pandemic (when the city chose not to provide rent relief), and projections showing tens of millions in a budget deficit, who will face the deepest cuts? The police? Or will it be housing, education and community investments, integral for a community to reduce crime? Seems clear to many in San Jose that the latter needs to to be given our focus and funds, while the SJPD needs to have their role in the community put under scrutiny.

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    Sheph G almost 4 years ago

    Reforms are procedural & ineffective, ask Derrick Sanderland, who trained SJPD for 3yrs to no avail.During the protests against police brutality he was harassed and shot by those same officers he “trained”.Defunding works, look at schools/parks/mental health, maybe let’s try for the right reasons now. Defund SJPD and redistribute those funds into marginalized communities.This is Silicon Valley let’s lead the way in reimagining public safety & end our contribution to the school to prison pipeline

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    Mashia Mazumder almost 4 years ago

    I oppose the proposed budget and demand that we defund SJPD and rather invest in our communities, especially with programs that support over-policed and under-resourced area. Fund mental health resources, rent relief, housing solutions, community/recreation spaces, and library programming. Our current system and budget do not serve the people. Disarm the police by cutting their non-personal equipment budget, do not allocate city funding for the defense of officers in the case of police violence.

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    Jessica CastilloVardaro almost 4 years ago

    Resources should be diverted from SJPD to services such as mental health crisis intervention, public schools, and affordable housing.The disparity in funding for public schools among neighborhoods within San Jose perpetuates inequality and systemic racism. People in mental health crisis need professionals trained specifically to assist and deescalate, not law enforcement officers with guns.

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    Laura Gomez almost 4 years ago

    I demand that the City of San Jose defund SJPD and invest in community care. I am disgusted at the behaviors of SJPD and the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and force used against protesters standing with the Black Lives Matters movement. Police violence has taken the many lives of SJ residents including: RUDY CARDENAS, STEVE SALINAS, ANTONIO GUZMAN LOPEZ, DIANA SHOWMAN, PHILIP WATKINS, AJ PHILIPS, RICHARD HARPO JACQUEZ, ANTHONY NUNEZ, ISAI LOPEZ. We are done dying at the hands of police!

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    Christian Rodriguez almost 4 years ago

    Defund the police. The mayor mentioned that there is a concern over safety if there are such slashes to funding for the police but we know that police presence as it stands is an even bigger safety concern for our communities, especially BIPOC. Route those funds into community organizations, mental health and overall wellness for the most vulnerable. The institution of policing is not meant to help at the capacities and "reform" alone won't do anything. Defund the police.

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    Dhruvi Sanghrajka almost 4 years ago

    The SJPD does not need an increase in their budget. Seeing how they responded to peaceful protesters of the BLM with excessive violence, I want to allocate the funds to the community. San Jose is still high with the number of Covid-19 cases. Let’s redirect that money into hospitals so that health care workers have PPE instead of scrambling and rationing. The police does not need more power. Defund the Police!

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    Callan Monette almost 4 years ago

    It is essential to work against the demonstrations of police militarization and brutality that we have witnessed over the past few weeks. I feel strongly that heavily defunding the police budget and investing instead in community care, mental health resources, rehabilitation support and public housing is the only solution. I urge you to reconsider your choice to continue funding the system responsible for the overt targeting, injury and murder of so many black and brown citizens.

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    Alysson Alfaro almost 4 years ago

    I am oppose to increasing the SJPD budget. It is absurd to think that increasing policing but decreasing school budgets, housing, and social support for the city will benefit the citizens the SJPD claim to be serving. If the kids of underfunded neighborhoods saw less police around their neighborhood and more tools and resources that are at a low or free cost for them, they would probably be a lot better off. Get police off school campuses, defund the police. Invest in all your citizens!